Rob Fisher News

Guest artistic director Mark Waldrop serves as referee in 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists'™ Mad Dogs & Educated Fleas: Noel & Cole, A Battle Of Wits, through tonight, May 7. Interpreting the songs of these two master lyricists are vocalists La Tanya Hall, Jeff Harnar, Edward Hibbert, Colleen McHugh and T. Oliver Reid with special guest Harriet Harris.

92nd Street Y today announced the 2013 line-up for Lyrics & Lyricists™, 92Y's celebrated American Songbook series. Deborah Grace Winer returns for her fifth season as artistic director of the series, as well as one of the shows. Guest artistic directors leading the individual concerts are Rob Fisher (with host Sheldon Harnick), David Loud, Billy Stritch and Mark Lamos in his L&L debut.

'I feel great - calm and good! My husband came in and told me this morning. We both had messages on our phones because we had them off. I try not to put too much pressure on the situation. He told me to wake up and it was a great way to start the day! This one feels different for me. I'm so excited and relieved- it makes you feel good and validated, though I hate to admit it. It feels very overindulgent because the show had been so fun, easy, and effortless. I love the people involved and it's been the icing on an already big cake. I'll do my show with my great cast and crew tonight and we'll all celebrate that we've been recognized. It's great- it makes you feel like you've already won.'

It took two years, a Pulitzer Prize and an Olivier Award-winning London production before happening, but Bruce Norris' searing satire, Clybourne Park, has finally made the six-block transfer from Off-Broadway's Playwright's Horizon to Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre.  The original ensemble of director Pam MacKinnon's excellent 2010 production has been reunited for the playwright's scathing telling of the racial integration of a Chicago neighborhood, as seen through the history of one very significant home.

Colin Donnell, who currently plays the role of 'Billy Crocker' in Anything Goes, is set to depart the production on April 29. Bill English, who played the role while Donnell was filming a pilot in January, will take over started May 1.

Last night, April 24, Carnegie Hall presented its gala benefit performance of The Sound of Music in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. The cast was led by Laura Osnes (Maria Rainer), Tony Goldwyn (Captain von Trapp), Brooke Shields (Elsa Schraeder), Patrick Page (Max Detweiler), Stephanie Blythe (The Mother Abbess), Mary Michael Patterson (Liesl von Trapp), Nick Spangler (Rolf Gruber), Cotter Smith (Herr Zeller), and Reed Birney (Admiral von Schreiber). They were joined by and Joel Hatch (Franz, The Butler), Joy Hermalyn (Sister Berthe), Linda Mugleston (Sister Margaretta), Faith Sherman (Sister Sophia), and Veanne Cox (Frau Schmidt). BroaadwayWorld was on hand for the exciting evening and brings you photo coverage below!

Carnegie Hall will present The Sound of Music tonight, April 24 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. A gala benefit for Carnegie Hall, this one-night-only concert performance of the beloved musical with a timeless score by Rodgers & Hammerstein will provide support for the music education programs of Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute.

Today we are completing our extensive three-part look at THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Carnegie Hall with an career-spanning chat with one of Broadway biggest rising stars, the amiable and accomplished Laura Osnes. Since her Broadway debut in GREASE - coming after the reality casting competition TV series, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - in 2007, Osnes has found great success with lead roles in three more Broadway musicals, spelling for Kelli O'Hara in SOUTH PACIFIC at Lincoln Center as Nellie Forbush, as well as taking on the title role in Frank Wildhorn's BONNIE & CLYDE with Jeremy Jordan and playing Hope Harcourt in the Roundabout revival of ANYTHING GOES alongside Sutton Foster and Joel Grey. In addition to outlining her experiences in those shows and her reflections on her time spent on Broadway thus far, Osnes also opens up about her recent essaying of three Rodgers & Hammerstein roles, having just starred with Will Chase in PIPE DREAM at Encores!, her just-confirmed casting in a new Broadway-bound stage adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA that has recently had a workshop production (and will have another in July, again co-starring Santino Fontana) as well as all about the star-studded Carnegie Hall concert presentation of THE SOUND OF MUSIC co-starring Tony Goldwyn and Brooke Shields which she headlines on April 24. Plus, she recounts her experiences participating in the recent Kennedy Center Honors salute to Barbara Cook alongside a dizzying roster of divas and tackling FOLLIES in the spectacular SONDHEIM! THE BIRTHDAY CONCERT presentation now available on DVD - and she also clues us in on her favorite shows, acting influences, plans for the future and much, much more!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Hairspray' at Oakbrook, two projects from Team StarKid, 'Rise Of The Numberless' from Bailiwick and New Colony, a new theater in Naperville, 'Bab Fab' and so much more!

Making a name for herself as a model at a very early age set the stage for a career on screens large and small - as well as the Broadway stage itself many, many times over - for iconic beauty Brooke Shields. On April 24, she takes on the role of the Baroness in a starry Carnegie Hall concert mounting of Rodgers & Hammerstein's much-loved musical classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC, co-starring previous InDepth InterView participant Tony Goldwyn as Captain Von Trapp in addition the subject of next week's upcoming InDepth InterView as Maria, rising star Laura Osnes. Sharing her insights on her many notable Broadway appearances since her bow in GREASE in the 1990s - including thoughts on her stints in CABARET, CHICAGO, WONDERFUL TOWN, THE ADDAMS FAMILY and more - Shields opens up about her affection for the theatrical form and her desire to pursue plays and musicals in the future. Additionally, Shields comments on her role opposite Miley Cyrus on HANNAH MONTANA, as well as her sitcom days on SUDDENLY SUSAN and upcoming film appearance in HOT FLASHES. Plus, all about her impressions of THE SOUND OF MUSIC and her affection for the classic score, original film and its stars as well as the challenges she faces taking on the tricky role of the Baroness in the gala Carnegie Hall concert event. All of that and much, much more!

Carnegie Hall today announced the complete cast for its gala benefit performance of The Sound of Music on Tuesday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. New to the cast are Mary Michael Patterson (Anything Goes) as Liesl von Trapp, Nick Spangler (The Book of Mormon) as Rolf Gruber, Cotter Smith (Next Fall) as Herr Zeller, Drama Desk and Obie Award recipient Reed Birney as Admiral von Schreiber, and Joel Hatch (Billy Elliot) as Franz, The Butler.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that critically acclaimed Broadway actress Rachel York will star as "Reno Sweeney" in the national tour of the 2011 Tony® Award winning Anything Goes. Presented by Roundabout Theatre Company, the national tour will set sail in Cleveland this fall. Anything Goes is the winner of three Tony® Awards including Best Musical Revival.

People have been harmonizing for thousands of years but group singing soared in popularity during the 20th century with groups from the Boswell Sisters to the Beach Boys and beyond blending their voices in every conceivable style. Lyrics & Lyricists™ celebrates the beauty of the human voice with its upcoming show In Perfect Harmony: Celebrating the Vocal Group. Guest artistic director Rob Fisher, with vocal groups New York Voices and the DiGiallanardo Sisters, harmonize to a wide variety of jazz, rock, American Songbook standards, folk and doo-wop from such iconic songwriters as Johnny Mercer, Jon Hendricks, John Phillips, Laura Nyro and Brian Wilson. Songs confirmed in the program include "Bei mir bist du shon," "Birdland," "Be My Baby," "Day Tripper," and "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Yesterday, March 21st, Roundabout Theatre Company celebrated the 400th performance of their hit revival of ANYTHING GOES, now starring Stephanie J. Block and Joel Grey (through April 29th). BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the onstage and offstage celebrations. Here's to the next 400!

SHN today announced the complete five-show 2012-2013 Season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Productions joining the previously announced engagement of 2011 Tony Award-Winning Best Musical - THE BOOK OF MORMON are: the pre-Broadway world premiere of DINER, Disney's THE LION KING, the Tony Award-winning revival of ANYTHING GOES and Bay Area favorite WICKED.

People have been harmonizing for thousands of years but group singing soared in popularity during the 20th century with groups from the Boswell Sisters to the Beach Boys and beyond blending their voices in every conceivable style. Lyrics & Lyricists™ celebrates the beauty of the human voice with its upcoming show In Perfect Harmony: Celebrating the Vocal Group. Guest artistic director Rob Fisher, with vocal groups New York Voices and the DiGiallanardo Sisters, harmonize to a wide variety of jazz, rock, American Songbook standards, folk and doo-wop from such iconic songwriters as Johnny Mercer, Jon Hendricks, John Phillips, Laura Nyro and Brian Wilson. Songs confirmed in the program include "Bei mir bist du shon," "Birdland," "Be My Baby," "Day Tripper," and "Bohemian Rhapsody."

BroadwayWorld has just confirmed that Colin Donnell, who plays the role of 'Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, is currently out of the show to film a pilot. Bill English is filling in until he returns on April 3rd.

Ravinia Festival President and CEO Welz Kauffman announced the festival's 2012 season, which offers more than 100 separate events exemplifying most musical genres, including the 77th residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The summer boasts a variety of music's legends from Philip Glass to James Taylor, along with 43 debuts, including Glee and Wicked star Idina Menzel, reggae master Jimmy Cliff, classic rocker Santana, Grammy-and-Oscar sensation Esperanza Spalding, and Musical America's "conductor of the year" Jaap van Zweden. Ravinia Music Director James Conlon celebrates the 35th anniversary of his own festival debut as his contract is extended through 2014.

Carnegie Hall today announced that its one-night-only concert performance of The Sound of Music on Tuesday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage will star Laura Osnes (Bonnie & Clyde, Anything Goes, Grease) as Maria Rainer alongside Tony Goldwyn (Broadway's Promises, Promises and film version of Ghost) as Captain von Trapp.

The simple, classic delights of childhood - spinning tops, bouncing balls, rocking horses, and talking animals - will reveal the delights of music at The Little Orchestra Society's next LOLLI-POPS™ CONCERTS: A MUSICAL TOY STORE, Saturday, March 3, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and Sunday, March 4, at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.